There has been a lot in my social media recently about the inglorious ways that the classical music sector has historically dealt with open secrets and concrete allegations of sexual harassment and abuse. The same themes keep coming… Read More
Posted on 11th Feb 2025 by Geoff Baker
The Journal of the Royal Musical Association has just published a review essay by Jane Isabelle Forner entitled “Classical Music’s Conflicted Futures: Perspectives on the Industry and Academia from Recent Scholarship.” I recommend it to those involved with… Read More
Posted on 22nd Jan 2025 by Geoff Baker
This week, the Guardian published a long article entitled “Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra at 50: is it time for brickbats or bouquets?” Despite the title’s implication of an even-handed assessment of pros and cons, there was never… Read More
Posted on 17th Jan 2025 by Geoff Baker
For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been glued to Katherine Needleman’s Facebook page. In the wake of the NY Philharmonic’s sexual assault scandal, Needleman – a top US-based oboist – has become a kind of clearing-house for… Read More
Posted on 8th May 2024 by Geoff Baker
It’s been a bad week for orchestras. An old sexual assault scandal at the New York Philharmonic hit the headlines again. But what could have come and gone quickly as a “bad apple” story – one that was… Read More
Posted on 21st Apr 2024 by Geoff Baker
Geoff Baker
Geoff Baker